Last week we shared our fall table and dining room as well as our fall porch decor.
Today I’m totally excited to show you our fall mantel and living room.
I’ve always wanted a mantel to decorate. There’s just something about that space. The ledge. The height. The creative options. Since we built our mantel last year, it’s has been the very first thing I decorate each season. It’s the first space I start imagining with the change of seasons.
I knew we’d make good use of it, but I had no idea how many renditions it would go through in such a short time!
This fall I had the added bonus of not spending a cent on decorating our mantel and living room.
I purchased nothing.
NOTHING.
Woo-to-the-hoo!
I left up our faux distressed gate and added the burlap banner from last fall. The large pumpkin and the three pears were purchased on sale at Michael’s at some point over the last year. The two smaller pumpkins and the pitcher were from the Superstore (aka Loblaws or Zehrs). The books were picked up in various places – including some old hymnals from my sweet Mother-In-Law. And both the small trencher and the framed stitched art are leftovers from our old business. Even the berries, leaves and flowers are fake and totally reusable!
For the rest of the space I brought out the oatmeal coloured throws we had purchased for the Steven & Chris shoot last October to cozy up with the down-stuffed pillows.
The taller birdcage on one end table was from Walmart while we were working on the Curb Appeal Series – but in the end I didn’t like how it looked out front. The smaller birdcage beside that was from Homesense in the spring. The stacking round boxes on another end table are also leftovers from our old business. All the bowl fillers and pip berries have been collected over time and toned down (or brightened up, depending on how you look at it) with plenty of whites and creams.
So many pieces put together by pulling them from around the house or out of our fall decorating tote!!! It’s like Christmas when we open that up every year. Super easy decorating that’s beautiful and light on the pocket book!
Just for fun, let’s compare last year’s mantel with this year’s: I’ve obviously used some of the same elements. BUT the styling has evolved and gotten better (thank goodness!).
And one more gratuitous shot of this year’s mantel…
We’re really enjoying cozying up in our simple fall living room!
Have you decorated your house for fall yet? Are you a white-on-white autumn decorator or do you prefer splashes of orange and red and yellow for fall?
I really love this! I want to make a mantle shelf like that! Must do before Christmas!
Oh, yes! You’ll love it!
I love it!! and that’s fantastic that you didn’t have to spend any money!! wahoo! I told my husband that next year we are planting our own pumpkin patch, so I can use my own, because my favorite thing to add in the fall is a lot of pumpkins through out the house
Bre @ ~roomsFORrent~ recently posted..Fall Mantle
Oh that sounds fun – growing your own pumpkins!
I long for a mantle as well so I did the next best thing. Made one also.
Hope you get a chance to drop by.
Love what you did with yours. Linda
Linda recently posted..Fall Mantle/Shelf
Gotta love a DIY spirit!
Your mantle is stunning! It looks as though it is straight out of a magazine! I love all of the white pieces that you have incorporated and they stand out so wonderfully against the gate! I thought that your fall mantle from last year was lovely and couldn’t imagine topping it, but you did! Truly inspirational!
Three Chicks & One Egg recently posted..Wonderful surprise
Love the balance of the rustic with the neutral!
Laura @ Finding Home recently posted..Fall in Love with…Spray Paint Link Party
Thanks, Laura. It’s one of my Favourite styles!
Love it Shannon! I haven’t done any Fall Decorating but you’re motivating me to get started!
Jo
Joanne recently posted..Today’s Guest Blogger – Miss Molly Brown
Have fun!
Shannon, I am sooo in love with your mantel. Everything about it is perfect. I love how you showed a side-by-side with last year’s mantel as well. Fun to see the transition. LOVE IT!
I went back and added the side-by-side this morning…I thought it would be cool for you guys to see again!
Very pretty! I noticed a really pretty bird cage on the table, where did you get it from?
how2home recently posted..How to: Built in Bookshelf
The light colored one was from Honesense this spring and the dark one was from Walmart!
Very pretty! I especially like the fall banner against the dark wood plaque. This caught my eye over at Centsational Girl and I had to take a peek!
Thanks for stopping by then, Kim!
I love white on white. Autumn colors inside become too intense for me, but I
love the season. Your “mantel” is beautiful.
I agree! The fall colours can stay outside!
Just love it!
Thanks, friend.
OH this is beautiful! I love the neutrals. Love the dark wood as a backdrop! Your entire room is gorgeous!
Jennifer {StudioJRU} recently posted..neutral inspired fall mantel.
Thank you SO much! I adore neutrals!
I love this. The dark backdrop makes everything pop. Love the whole room.
Kim recently posted..Wow Us Wednesdays #85
Lovely!! I love your tonal/white look for Fall. It’s perfect for your home. I think the home or room will speak to staying with whites or neutrals or adding color. Sometimes it’s really more than preference…it’s what the room wants and needs. And your is perfect!!! Thanks for the inspiration. Isn’t it fun when the things you’ve picked up here and there all come together? It’s not really free…but it sure feels like it….and there’s no having to get in the car to look for that evasive thing that will make it all perfect.
Happy Fall!!
Diane | An Extraordinary Day recently posted..A Wannabe Fall Mantel
This room is definitely a neutrals kind of room. It had bold colours once and it was to much with all the natural sunlight (so many windows!).
Loving the white on white! Classy yet inviting.
Heather M recently posted..Phone shelf update with vintage jar organizer
I love the mantel, as well as, the paint color of your walls. Your room is quite cozy. Very nice!
Kimberly recently posted..Very early stories
Oh yes! It’s one if my favorite paint colours! Analytical Gray by Sherwin Williamss.
So sweet! I love it all!
How Pretty! Love the little fall garland, so cute!
Michelle @ Sweet Something Design recently posted..Another Fall Mantle (My MIL’s!)
Congrats on your Centsational Girl feature. Love your mantel!
Heather M recently posted..Fall art tutorial – from failure to success
Just saw you featured over @ Centsational Girl! Congrats!! It looks amazing as always:)
~Sarah
Sarah @ Just The Bee’s Knees recently posted..I need your input!
Thank you, Sarah and Heather! We are thrilled to be included with some other fab mantels in the roundup!
Your home is darling!
Thank you so much, Carrie!
I loved your faux distressed gate so much that I asked my husband to make us one and we are using it as a fireplace cover. I will be showing it on my blog tomorrow and wanted to ask if I could share your picture from this post as my inspiration picture. Thank you so much for inspiring me with your work!! Thanks again, Shelly from http://www.shellybailey.blogspot.com
Beautiful, just beautiful…
Debbie
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